Wire-fence-making machine.



PATENTED AUG. 14, 1906.

T. PATTERSON.

WIRE FENCE MAKING MACHINE. I

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19.1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED AUG.14, 1906.

T. PATTERSON. WIRE FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED FEB.10.-1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED AUG. 14, 1906.

T. PATTERSON. WIRE FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19. 1904.

e SHEETS-SHEET a.

No. 828,772. PATENTED AUG. 14, 1906:

T.,PATTERSON.

WIRE FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIOAT IONIIILBD 113.19. 1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

C L/C a/ PATBNTED AUG.14,:1906.

T. PATTERSON. WIRE FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19. 1904.

e SHEETS-SHEET 5,

PATENTED AUG. 14, 1906.

T. PATTERSON.

-WIRE FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIOAT-ION FILED r2349, 1904,

6 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

. portion of the machine being -br'Oken away .strands crirnped, and thereby tion of the machine at which the electric shafts.

g UNITED STATES PATEN OFFIOE.

THOMAS PATTERSON, or TORONTO, OANADA, ASSIGNOR To THE DOMINION FENCE COMPANY, LIMITED. OF TORONTO, OANADA,

A CORPORATION OF CANADA.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known thatI, THOMAS PATTERSON, mechanical superintendent, of the city of Toropto, in the county of York, in the Province of-Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Fence- Making Machines, of which the following is the specification.

My invention relates to improvements in wire-fence-making machines; and the object of the invention is to devise a machine of this class by which a high-class heavy wire fence may be thoroughly welded at the oints of junction of the longitudinal stran sand the vertical stays, the ends of ,the stays looped over the strands, and the longitudinal an extremely strong and durable fence pro uced.

My invention consists of a wire-fencemaking machine having means for feeding the stays laterally onto the strands, electric welding devices for welding the stays onto the strands at the point of crossing, and the feeding, looping, and crimping devices, as hereinaftermore particularly explained.

Figure 1 is a view in parallel perspective of the machine, showing the mechanism for making four strands of the fence, the other from end to end. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through \the machine. 'Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the porweldin is accomplished. Fig. 4 is a longitudinaFsection through the major portion of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the portion of the machine in which the crimping and looping of the' stays over the outside strands at the end is accomplished. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the feed for the stays. Fig. 7 is an enlar ed detail ofthe commutator and arm an brushes acting therewith and operated from one of the die-supporting Fig. 8 is a sectional detail s owing the commutator and brush thereof, Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of the die-su porting arm and die. Fig. 10 is a longitu inal section throu h the arm and die. Fig. 11 is a detail of t e die. Fig. 12 is a perspective view from the opposite side to' that shown in Fig. 5, showing. portion of the operating Specification of Letters Patent. I Application filed February 19, 1904. Serial No. 194.385

mechanism of the knuckling device which Patented Aug. 14, 1906.

forms the end loo s of the stays. Fig. 13 is a sectional detail coking at the front face of the knuckling mechanism. Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail of the crimping mechanism. Fig. 15 is a detail of the cam by which the crimping mechanism is operated; Fig. 16 is a vertical section showing the means for operating the knucklers. v

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

A is the main frame of the machine, one side only of which is shown, and a, a, a a", a, and a are the main uprights.

A A are standards carrying the crossbars A A and a series of electric transformers B, corresponding in number to the number of strands of the fence, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

0 is a table the longitudinal bars 0 of which are supported at one end on theframe of the machine, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the opposite end being supported by suitable legs; In Fig. 1 the table is shown intermediately broken away;

The longitudinal strands 2 of the fence are fed in any suitable manner between the straightening-wheels 3, and where the strand ends it is welded to another length, so as to makethe strand continuous. In the drawings I have only shown four longitudinal strands, as I consider this is uite suflicient for the sake of clearness an for fully illustrating m invention. It will, however, be understoo that the fence may consist of as many longitudinal strands as may be desired, and necessarily the parts of my machine which operate on such longitudinal strands as they pass through the machine will correspondin number to such longitudinal strands.

The table 0 is provided at its front side with a shaft D, which is journaled in suitable bearings d and extends throughout the length of the table and across the machine, being supported in suitable bearings d thereon.

d represents wheels secured on the shaft D and meshing with pinions d on the spin dles d, which are 'ournaled in suitable bearings d on the table and late D",- supported on the frame of the mac ine and extending crosswise of'the same. The spiridl'esd have secured to their outer ends the grooved feed- .wheels D The wheels D and their coacting ,the strands.

with a friction-roller e.

parts are located at desired distances apart on a line with each other in front of the table C and of the cross-plate D, extending from machine.

side to side, and are continuously rotated, so

tudinal strands, as hereinbefore described.

The table Cis provided with a supplemental top C, supported on longitudinal stringers c c.

c c are spindles ournaled in suitable bearings c and c c are grooved wheels located at desired distances apart on the spindles c 0, respectively, and 0 represents endless belts passing underneath the table-top O and over it and around the grooved wheel 0 0 represents a series of wheels having segmental notches c". The wheels 0 are secured on the spindle c,which is journaled in suitable bearings 0 The wheels 0 are located in proximity to the belts c and are continually rotated by means of a sprocket-wheel c", deriving motion from any suitable source of power.

C represents gaging-bars, which are located above the table-top C and extend parallel with the belts 0 which pass over the top C just a suflicient distance so as to permit of the passage of one stay 3 at a time on the same levelthat is to say, the (gaging-bar C is parallel with'the belt from en to end. The

stays are placed by hand upon the belts c to the back of the gaging-bars C and are fed forwardly by the belt to the wheels 0 the seg mental notches of which are of just the depth to receive a stay at a time. It will therefore be seen, as the wheels 0 revolve, that upon every revolution they car forward a stay and deposit it upon the be t at the opposite.

side of the wheels from which the stays one at a time are fed into the feed-wheels D whichextend across the machine and over It is now necessary to deposit the stays upon the strands preparatory to electrically welding them to the strands. In order to efiect this, I provide the following mechanism. E is one of the main drivingshafts of the machine, which is journaled in suitable bearings in each side of the frame.

E is a wheel secured thereto and provided e is an arm pivoted in a bracket e secured to the frame. e is a spiral spring connected to the arm e and to a e is a spring vided with an arm e. the arm e to the arm 6.

The cross-bar or plate D is supported on suitable brackets di secured to the cross-bar D extending from side to side of the machine. I) represents'plates secured to the crossbar D and having longitudinal grooves une is a rod connecting dern'eath the same, through which the strands 2 extend. The plates D are provided with projecting fingers d. In Fig. 3 I show one of the strands removed on the near side of the I also show the machine broken away and some of the welding-dies and their as to feed the stays inwardly ontothe longii supporting-arms removed for the sake of clearness.

F represents" arms pivotally supported at the top on the cross-barf and subject to a normal spring-pressure rearwardly by means of the springs f, pressing on the pins 7" on the arms. The bottoms of the arms F are provided with notches F, into which the stay is designed to be fed onto the strands between the end of the projection d and the end of the arm. The stay 3, lying in the wheels D is lifted out of the same by means of the curved arms e secured to the cross-bar e", such arms being operated from the wheel E by the mechanism' hereinbefore described and shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 4. When the sta 3 is lifted from the wheels D it is deposited crosswise upon the plates D'. As it is essential that such stays be carried onto the strands, I provide the following mechanism for effecting this purpose positively. G represents a series of fingers, each of which is provided with.a beveled front end 9 and a notch g. The rear end of the finger G is connected to a cross-bar 9 which extends at the ends into the blocks g, being located in the slots 9 of the arms G, located one at each side of the machine and pivotally connected at the top to the frame by the pins G G is a bar pivotally connected at the rear to the bottom of the arm G and at the front end pivotally connected to the swing-link g". The rear end of each bar G at each side of the machine is connected by a spiral spring G to a suitable portion of the frame. Each finger G lies upon the plate I) in proximity to its respective strand.

h is a pin secured on each pitman H, by which the dies hereinafter referred to are drawn forward. The pins h extend outwardly from the pitman H into the path of the link 9 and it will consequently be seen that when the pitman H is given its forward movement, as will hereinafter appear, to draw the dies forward it will at the same time carry the link 9 and consequently the arm G and fingers G, forward and by means of, the notch g carry thestay forward past the end of the plate D and'finger (1 onto the strand, forcing the spring-held fingers F forward, so that the stay lies upon each strand directly between the upper and lower coacting dies I and J.

Before describing the manner in which the dies are operated shall describe the construction of the dies themselves. The dies I and J are located on the ends of the ams I and J, respectively. I shall describe each die in relation to the arm I. (See Figs. 9 and 10.) i is a hole extending through the end of the'arm .I. 'i is an insulating-sleeve extending through such hole, and i represents top and bottom insulating-plates 10- cated on each side of the end of the arm. I is the die-holder, which is provided with. an upwardly-projecting stern t ends of the .metal straps 4, leading from the transformers B, are connected. I is the annular enlargement I. tends through the sleeve 1', and plates i and is secured in position by means of the nut i at the upper end thereof. It will thus be seen that the shank of the die is insulated from the main arm I. I is the die proper, which is provided at the bottom with crossgrooves i. The die I is secured to the bottom of the shank 'L, by means of the pins i or any other suitable fastening, and the center of the die is provided with a plug i of insulating material. The reason of forming Such shank exthe bottom of the die with the cross-grooves is to provide for the reception of the crossed stays and strands, and the reason of providing the center of the die with a plug of insulating material is to prevent the annealing of the crossed wires to such an extent as to render them liable to break after they have been welded together electric current.

In order'to supply the electric current to the transformers, and consequently to'the before referred to.

' of the dies, at the proper moment, I provide the following simple arrangement. 5 and 5 are the wires leading from the dynamo to the main switch 6, located on the switchboard on the side of the machine. (See Fig. 1.) The continuation of the wire 5 leads to the transformers B, and a continuation of the wire 5 leads to the bent end of the lever 6. 7 represents the wires, one of which leads from each transformer B to a section 8 of the commutator. It will be noticed that eachtransformer is suspended by a shank from a cross-plate a the shank extending through slots a in the cross-bars A herein- It will thus be seen that the transformers are laterally adjustable. There are a corresponding number. of sections commutator to the strands ofthe fence for the purpose which will hereinafter a pear. The plates D are adjustable upon t e cross-bar D in order to permit the spacing of the strands at any desired distance a art. The arms I. and J, which carry the dies I and J, are adjustably secured on the cross-shafts 9 and 10 between the divided collars 9 and 10. The shafts 9 and 10 are journaled in the cross-heads 11, located at each side of the machine and sliding on wires 11. Itwill thus be scen that the dies may be adjusted laterally to suit the position of the strands.

12 and 13 are shafts journaled in suitable, bearings 12 and 13 on the side of-tihe .machine and provided with earns 12 and 13 to which the 1 I through a bracket rod 15- between the nutby the force of the The shafts 12 are driven at a suitable and the cams coact with the armsI and J. The arm J is resiliently supported by a spring 14, and consequently the J has a resilientsupport. The arm I is provided with a supp emental arm IE, pivotally conspeed nected thereto near the shaft 9. shank of the die, which is provided with an a 15 is a rod extending upwardly from the arm 16, secured to the arm and 17 is a spiral spring encircling the 18 and the bracket 16 the s ri-n exertin a. normal )ressurc upwardly on the bracket, and consequently on the arm.

It will now be seen that the dies will be thrown together by the cams 12 13 so as to bring them against the stays and strands at the point of crossing, and that such dies are cushioned, so to speak, by the springs 14 and 17, so that there is no danger of any breaking of the operating parts. VVlu-n the dies are brought together, it is necessary that the current should pass into them so as to weld the strands and stays at the point of crossing. In order to reduce to a minimum the amount of current necessary to ell'r-ct this Welding, I provide the commutatm and arm 6, hereinbefore referred to. The arm 6' is pivoted on a pin 6 at the bottom of the frame and is loosel connected by a jaw 6 to the end of the shaft 1.0. It will thus be seen that any forwardmovement imparted by the pitman II to the cross-heads 11, as Willhereinafter appear, will convey a swing ing movement to the top of the arm 6 over the commutator, and any backward movementof the cross-head 11 will give a retrograde movement to the arm 6. This backward movement is effected by means of the bell-crank lever 11 the short end of which resses against the cross-shaft 9 and the ong end of which is provided with a weight 11 The arm 6 carries on its upper end a substantially elliptically-formed spring brush 6", provided with a laterally-extend ing lip 6", which normally when the commutator-arm is in the back position rests below the level of the end of the guiding-ribs 19,

which are supported at one end by the belts 19 on the bracket19 and at the opposite end by the pins 19 upon the slotted standards 19 It will now be seen, immediately upon the cross-heads 11 being given a forward movement and the dies being consequently brought upon the junction of the strands and stay, that the brush 6 will very rapidly pass over each successive section of the commutator, andthereby momentarily. throw the current from the transformer into the dies to which the sections are connected, as hereinbefore described, thus effecting the welding, while the strands and stays are being fed forward from the position of the stay underneath the die and to the rear of the (rift.

stays are successively welded from one side of the machine to the other to the strands as the dies pass forwardly and that the connection is broken before the limit of the stroke is reached, so as to enable the arm 6 to re turn to normal, preparatory to welding the next succeeding stay, wluch 1s fed by the mechanism hereinbefore described, which is properly timed to deliver the next stay immediately behind the sprihg-fingers F ready to be gripped and welded by the dies again. The strands 2 are supported by the crossbars 20 and 21 on the hanger-brackets 22, se cured to one of the cross-bars of the frame. (See Fig. 2.)

I shall now describe the means by which the strands, with the stays on them, and the.

dies are fed forwardly simultaneously. K and K are shafts j ournaled in bearings 7c and k in the sides of the frame. The shafts K and K carrythe sprocket-wheels K and K respectively, at each end, and the sprocket: carry the sprocket-chainsv wheels K and K K The sprocket-chainsK have attached to or forming part of some of their'linksand at equidistances apart the bearing-blocks id, in which are secured the cross-spindles 15 which are set at a determinate distance apart corresponding to the distance apart of the stays, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. Upon the spindles I secure the collars having the se mental projections k provided With note es it, through which the strands are designed to pass and be held. The segmental projections k are designed to contact with the stays, and the fronts of the segmental projections oneach spindle are lo- I cated at a distance apart corresponding to the distance. of the stays. In fact, the amount of feed at a time is determined by thedistance apart of the segmental projections. Q

In this specification enerally I am describing only one side of t strands, as herembefore premised. In Fig. 2 I show the opposite side. 1

The sprocket-Wheels are driven from a main sprocket 23, which derivesimovement timed as to give a PIIOPGl'lY-tlIIlGdIIlOVQIIIBDf to the sprocket-chain and-consequently to from any suitable source of power and is so the segmental projectlons. I j At each end of each of the spindles K carrying the segmental projectlons, I provide e machinei'with fourforward ends of the blocks h? (frame and at the other end stays overfas shown in Fig. 13.

the anus 76', provided with end friction-rollers 767.

It represents guideways formed a! the inside of the sprocket-wheels and supported upon a standard in. These guideways are located toward the rear end of the sprocketchain and are designed to form a guide for the arms It, so as to bring the segmental projections k of the collars into proper poshion to receive the stay and strands when they arrive at the top portion of the chain. 1 also provide at the bottom of the standard It" a forwardlyextending lower guide It, which forms a guide to insure of the projeci ions and arms coming down the right way lI'Onl the strands, so that they will assume the proper position when they are ascending at the opposite end of the sprocket-chain.

-I have hereinbefore described the piimeu H, and these pitmen are driven by the bear ing-blocl s 7.9 in the following manner. The pitmen ll are provided with inwardly-extending blocks 7 and rollers 7L on the outside and a connecting-rod k On the outside of the standard /c" I provide the inclined ways h It will be seen that as the sprocket-chains are caused to move forwardly at the top the bearing-blocks lc" will come in contact periodically with the on the pitman and carry such blocks forward until the rollers 7L3 come in contact with the inclined Ways h, which as the rollers pass upwardly upon the same will throw the blocks b from engagement with the blocks 16 and up above the same. The

weighted bell-crank lever 11" now acting upon the shaft 10 will necessarily draw the pitmen H backwardly to their normal posi tion and the dies into osition above the strands at a point where t e stays are deposited between them.' The distance traversed by the pitman'is of course so arran ed as to be the distance from one stay to anot er, and when this distance is traveled the pitman is released and carries the parts connected thereto back to normal ready to weld the next stay. In order to hold the fence down after the stays have been welded to the strands, I provide the strips L, which are fastened at one end to the cross-bar of the to a suitable crossbar 1, supported on portion of the standardL. ,K

' I find it is necessary in practice in a ma: chine of this class to provide a loop "in the strands, or, more properly, in the length of the fence, after the stays have been welded -thereon,.for the reason that to produce a properly-finished .fence I have to loop 'the This is a 'difiicult matter, and while it can be done during the time that the stays are bein welded and fed-yet it.==:eannot be done w 'le the stays are being'welded alone, and for this reason the feed has to be timed differently at v feed on the opposite end of the tween the part of the strips, which extend lever fulcrumed located at a distance apart corresponding to .in mechanism S, located between the feedone end of the machine as compared to the machine, and the slack is taken up continuously by having a slack loop .in the length formed in the manner I shall now describe, and the inequalities of the feed are provided for. M is a roller journaled on the top of the standard L and underneath which the strands pass. M is a roller journaled in the top of the standard L and over which the strands pass. N represents shields secured to the sides of the frame and connected by cross-bars n n and havi guiding-strips n" secured thereto underneat which the strands are carried. A is a supplemental frame carried on the main frame at the front or discharge end of the machine. A is a roller upon which the fence is Wound.- A represent standards secured on top of the frame A and having secured thereto the slatted-supports O and the shield or guards O. The shields N and the shields O serve to guide the fence and hold it in its pro er ositionas it is passing onwardly. lie ence passes from t eslatted support 0 between the plates 'P and P, supported on the side standards 12, secured in the to of the supplemental frame A Thence t e fence passes on to the toothed wheels Q into the space heteeth q, thence down over the guiding-roller R .to the receiving roller A*. At the point where it passes between the plates P and P the knucklers operate-to form the loop. (Shown in Fig. 13.) The feed is effected at this end of the machine by means of the toothed wheels Q, which are the strands and the teeth of which are arranged at such a distance apart and of such a height as to grip the stays for the purpose of feeding the fence. 10 represents guidin from the upper plate over the tooth p. The crimping of the strands, as indicated, is effected by means of the crimpro lers Q and the guiding-roller R.

I shall first describe the mechanism and operation of the knucklers to form the end loops. (Shown inFi .13.) Tis a cross-shaft journaled in suitab e bearings in the main frame and provided with cams t and t. p are cross-bars secured to the standards and p representsrbrackets secured to t e cross-bars, p p and the cross-plates P. p represents guid-ways secured to the cross-bars p, as indicated. p is a vertical bar movable in'the guidewa s and p i's a supplemental bar secured to t char 1) and provided with an open end 1), having a roller journaled on a pin "at its lower end and es'igned to coact with the cam 25. The head 11* of the bar 4 is provided with a depending finger P an an upwardly-extending finger P P is an upright secured to the cross-bars p.

on the upright P I and pivotally connected to the finger P and provided P is a J with a weight P. P. is a finger depending from the head 10 and to one side of the finger P. T is a bell-crank-sha ed lever fulcrumed on the head 1) andprovi ed with an end finger F. T is a bar pivotally connected to the end of the upper end of the bell-crank T, and T is a s otted bar pivotally connected to the bottom of the bar T and provided with a roller t designed to coact with the cam t. T is a s iral spring connected to the lower end of t e bar T and to the bent end of the upright P The stay 3 is fed first forward, by the means which I shall presently describe, un derneath the fingers P at each side of the machine and the cams are so set as to' bring the bars 19 dowry-and consequently the finger P, so as to force down the ends of the stays quickly over the outer strand-wires on each side of the machine. (See Fig. 13.) The stay being'now fed forward slightly, the bar 1) is brought down by the cam 25 again, so as to bring the finger P stay in proximity to the longitudinal strand. At the same time the cam 25 in rotating serves to tilt the bell-crank lever-T on its pivot and. throw the finger end t against the depending end of the stay 3, (indicated by heavy dotted lines in Fig. 13,) thereby throwing or bending such stay up into theposition indicated by light dotted lines in Fig. 13, so asto form a loop around the longitudinal strand 2. It will be quite readily understood that this operation takes place simultaneously at each end of the stay and like parts are provided to effect the operation. 4 It will be noticed that the feed of the stay underneath the finger P and then underneath the finger P must be exact, so as to allow of the proper bending or knuckling, as I term it, of the end of the stay, and it must also be understood that it must be locked for the same purpose, so as to hold the stay stationary during the operation and bend it straight. In order to effect this purpose, I provide the following simple mechanism. The stays by which the feeding is done, of course, as hereinbefore premised, fit into the toothed wheels. In order to rotate the wheels, I provide a ratchet-wheel Q on the end of the shaft and a rocking arm Q outside the ratchet-w eel on the shaft. The

ratchet-wheel Qis secured to the shaft and the rocking arm is loose upon it and is provided with a 'suitably formed pawl g to engage with the ratchet-wheel. 3 is a lever pivoted in the frame and provided with a weight at one end and a connecting-bar Q at the opposite end, connecting it to the outer end of the rocking arm Q With'the roller Q T is provided with two main rises t and t 'or a purpose which will hereinafter appear. The cam also is provided journaled on, pins in the face of the cam. 1 Q

onto the top of the T is a cam secured on the shaft ,T and designed to coact I I 2 on the lever Q ,The cam with rollers t and t,

. bell-crank T, hereinoefore described in referis a substantially bell-shaped lever, pivoted on a pin 9 on the frame and provided with the end notches g and T. The ratchetwheel Q is provided with the laterally-extending pins {113. g is a' bracket having the arms Q and Q provided with end notches, with which the pins g on the ratchet Q are designed to engage. As the cam T rotates it throws the lever Q downwardly and by the rise t in the camgives the major throw, so as to bring the one stay the proper distance away from the knuckling-fingers hereinbefore described and the next stay under the first finger P The pin g at this juncture is brought into engagement with the first notch g of the lever Q, and a corresponding pin g is brought into the notch of the arm Q thereby securely locking the feeding mechanism during. the process of bending down the proje'cting ends of the stays over the outer strands, as indicated in Fig. 13. As the cam continues to rotate and this operation is performed the roller 75 comes in contact with the lever Q, and tilts it sufficiently, so as to throw the notch 9 into engagement with the pin g and the arm Q into engagement with the cor responding pin q, thereby locking the mechanism when the-stayhas been pushed forward -by the next rise 2& of the cam into the position for the operation of the knuckling ence to 'Fig. 13. The next succeeding roller on the face of the cam-wheel T coming against the bell-crank lever Q throws out the notch q and the arm Q and the pins pass on as the ratchet-wheel is given its rotary movement, as hereinbefore described, so as to feed the next sta into position underneath. the first finger As the now partially-completed fence passes downwardly from the wheels.Q the strands are given a crimp by the following mechanism. S represents crossbars secured to the legs of the supplemental frame A and set at an angle corresponding to the incline at which the fence passes to the guiding-wheel R. 3 represents a series of cross-bars provided with notches s. S is a bar suitably held in the cross-bars S, which form guideways. 8 represent pins located outside the notches s. It will be noticed that the ends of the blocks 8 are beveled, so as to permit of the stays passing over freely and yet allow of the strands to pass down between the notches s and the pins 8 s is an arm secured to the frame, and s is a lever connected by a rod s to the end of the bar 8*. S is a peripheral cam secured on the shaft T and into which extends the roller 8 on the end of the lever 8 It will now be understood that as the shaft T revolves the cam S will impart a reciprocating movement to the bar S and as the longitudinal strands of the fence pass between the notched block 8 and pins 8 such pins will as thestrands pass through crimp such strands throughout their length.

Although I show only one block 8 and corre sponding pins, there will be as many blocks with their corresponding pins as there are strands on the bar S From thisdescription it will be seen that I have provided a very complete machine by which a fence may be formed of stays and strands electrically welded at their junction and turned out complete with practically no manual labor.

I desire also to call attention to the fact that all the operating parts are adjustable laterally, so as to make a fence of any desired number of strands, and the feeding mechanism may be disposed to make the stays at any desired distance apart.

What I claim as my invention'is 1. In a wire-fence-making machine, the combination with the mainframe and means for feeding the strands horizontally thereon,

of a stay-feeding device located to one side of the main frame, grooved rollers ournaled in a suitable frame in alinement with each other ada ted-to receive the stays from said stayfee ing device, means for drivin such rollers, so as to throw the stay inwardly into position on top of the strands, and means for electrically welding the stays to the strands as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a wire-fence-making machine, the

combination with the main frame and strand feeding device, a second frame located to one side of the main frame, rooved rollers secured thereto, means for rivin said rollers, means on the second frame for elivering the previously-cut stays one by one to the said rollers so asto be delivered by them on top of the strands, and means for electrically Welding the stays to the strands.

8. In a Wire-fence-making machine, the combination with the main frame and strandfeeding device, of a stayfeeding device located to one side of the mainframe, grooved rollers ournaled in asuitable frame in alinement with each other and suitably driven, an endless belt supported on asuitable table at the side of the machine and extendin to the rollers and means for electrically welding the stays to the strands as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a wire-fencemal ing machine, the combination with the grooved rollers arranged in alinement with each other and suitably sup orted and driven, of the staycarrying end ess belt suitably supported having one end extending into proximity with the grooved wheels, and the guards supported above the belt, so as to leave a thickness of the stay between the guards and the belt and means for electrically welding the stays to the strands after they have been deposited thereon by the grooved wheels as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a wire-fence-making machine, the combination with the grooved rollers arranged in alinement with each other and suitably supported and driven, of the staycarrying endless belt'suitably supported and having one end extending into proximity with the grooved wheels, the guards supported above the belt, so as to leave a thic ness of the stay between the guards and the belt, the notched feed-wheels supported on a suitable shaft and located in proximity to the belt and means for electrically welding the stays to the strands after they have been deposited on the strands as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination with the strand-feeding means and the grooved supplemental 'stay-feed wheels located on a line with each other across the main frame and suitably driven, of means for lifting the stays from such wheels, so as to throw them onto the strands and means for electrically welding the stays to the strands as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination with the strand-feeding devices and electrical welding means, of means for feeding stays upon the strands in position to be welded thereto comprising grooved supplemental feed-wheels located on a line with each other across the main frame and suitably driven, of a rock-shaft journaled on the frame, and the arms secured to the rock-shaft and designed to extend underneath the stay, and means for rocking the shaft, as and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination with the strand-feeding devices and electrical welding means, of means for feeding stays upon the strands in position to be welded thereto comprising grooved supplemental feed-wheels located on a line with each other across the main frame and suitably driven, of a rock-shaft journaled on the frame, and the arms secured to the rock-shaft and designed to extend underneath the stay, a driving-shaft, an arm secured to the frame, a rod connecting the arm to the arm on the rock-shaft, a disk on the driving-shaft provided with a roller designed to en age with the arm, and a spring designed to normally hold the arm in a raised position, as and for the pur ose specified.

The combination wit the strand-feeding devices and the supplemental feed-wheels supported on a cross-bar on the main frame and suitably driven, and means for lifting the stay from the feed-wheels, of supportingplates for the stays located above the path of the strands, feeding means for feeding the sta; s forwardly onto the strands from the plates and means for electrically welding the stays to the strands as and for the purpose specified.

10. The combination with the strand-feeding devices and the supplemental feed-wheels supported on a cross-bar on the main frame and suitably driven, and means for lifting the stay from the feed-wheels, of supportingplates for the stays located above the path of the strands, a series of fingers provided. with notched ends designed to engage with the stays, means for reciprocating such fingers and electrical welding means for welding the stays to the strands as and for the purpose specified. Y

11. The combination with the strand-feeding devices and electrical welding means, of stay-feedin means comprising the supplemental fee' -wheels supported on a cross-bar on the main frame and suitably driven, and means for lifting the stay from v the feedwheels, of supporting-plates for the stays located above the path of the strands, .a series of fingers provided with notched ends designed to engage with the stays, a cross-spindle to which the rear ends of the fingers are secured, arms pivoted on the frame and slotted as indicated, the blocks carrying the spin dle, and means for imparting movement to the arms, as and for the purpose specified.

12. The combination with the strand-feeding devices and electrical welding means, of stay-feeding means comprising the supplemental feed-wheels supported on'a cross-bar on the main frame andsuitably driven, and means for lifting the stay from the feedwheels, of supporting-plates for the stays located above the path of the strands, a series of fingers provided with notched ends de signed to engage with the stays, a cross-spindle to which the rear ends of the fingers are secured, arms pivoted on the frame and slotted as indicated, the blocks carrying the spindle, swing-links pivoted on the frame at each end, bars connecting the swing-links and the arms, means for impartinga forward movement to the swing-links and consequently to the arms, and spring means connected to the bar designed to draw'the same rearwardly, as and for the purpose specified.

13. The combination with the strand-feeding devices and electrical welding means, of stay-feedin means comprising the supplemental fee -wheels supported on a cross-bar on the main frame and suitably driven, and means for lifting the stay from the feedwheels, of supporting-plates for the stays located above the path of the strands, a series of fingers provided with notched ends designed to engage with the stays, a cross-spindle to which the rear ends of the fingers are secured, arms pivoted on the frame and slotted as indicated, the blocks carrying the spin-f dle, swing-links pivoted on the frame at each end, bars connectingthe swing-links and the arms, a die-operating pitman suitably driven and provided with pins designed to come in contact with the swing-links on the forward movement of the connected to the same rearwardly, specified.

14. The combination with the strand-feed bar designed to draw the as and for the purpose IIO pitman, and spring means ing devices and the plates located above the path of the strands, of the fingers deriving a reciprocating movement on such plates to carry the stays from the plates onto the strands and electrical means for welding the stays to the strands as and for the purpose specified.

15. The combination with the strand-feeding devices and the plates located abovethe path of the strands, of the fingers deriving a reciprocating movement on such plates to carry the stays from the plates onto the strands, and spring-held arms located. opposite the forward ends of the plates and designed to form a resilient stop for the stays and electrical means for welding the stays to the strands as and for the purposespecified.

16. In a machine of the class described, horizontal plates, downwardly inclined spring-arms in yielding contact with the plates so as to hold the stays thereon, dies operating between said arms onto the crossed top of the stay and strand, and electrical connections to such dies, substantially as described.

17. The combination with the spring-arms and plates, of the diesdesigned to operate between the spring-arms onto the crossed top of the stay and strand, the frame provided with slotted cross-bars, and transformers adjustably held in such cross-bars, and electrical connections to the transformers and from thetransformers to the dies as and for the purpose specified.

18. In a wire-fence-making machine, the combination with the die-supportingarm, of an insulatingsleeve secured in the end thereof, end insulatin -disks surrounding the insulating-sleeve an the die provided with an annular enlargement at the bottom and extending through the insulating-sleeve and provided with a suitable nut for holding it in the insulating-sleeve as and for the purpose 19. In a fence-making machine, the combination with the die-shank, of the die proper provided with crossed grooves in the face thereof, means for securing it to the bottom of the shankand an insulating-plug located in the center of the die at the crossing of the grooves as and for the purpose specified.

20. The combination with the arms and dies secured to the end thereof and the shaft supporting" the arms suitably supported in the frame, of means for tilting the arms, so as to bring the dies together onto the crossed strands and stay and electric connections to such dies as and for the purpose specified.

21. The combination with the arms and dies secured to the end thereof and the shaft supporting the arms suitably supported in the frame, of cross-shafts suitably journaled in the frame and driven and provided with cams designed to operate against the free ends of the arms and means for supplying electric current to the dies as and for the purpose specified.

22. The combination with the shafts and arms carrying the dies secured thereon and means for supplying electric current to the dies, of a spring engaging the end of the lower arm and suitably supported on the frame,,a supplemental armpivotally con nected to the upper arm, a rod extending upwardly therefrom, a" bracket secured on the upper arm and a spiral spring encircling the rod between the bracket and a collar on the rod and means for separating the arms, so as to throw the dies together as and for the purpose specified.

23. The combination with the shafts and arms carrying the dies secured thereon, and

and arms and dies carried by the same, and

the movable cross-heads carrying the crossshafts, of means for imparting a forward movement .to the arms and consequently to the dies and means for supplying electric cur- Iglenlt to the dies as and for the purpose speci 25. The combination with the cross-shafts and arms and dies carried by the same and the movable cross-heads carrying the crossshafts, of means for imparting a forward movement to the arms and consequently to .jthe dles and means for nnpartmg a rearward movement thereto, and means for supplying electric current to the dies as and for the purpose specified.

26. The combination with the cross-shafts and arms and dies carried by the same and the cross-heads carrying the cross-shafts, of means for imparting a forward movement to the arms and consequently to the dies, a

1 bellcranl{ weighted lever designed to come in contact with the cross-shaft and means for supplying electric current to the dies as and for the purpose specified.

27. The combination with the cross-shafts and arms and dies carried by the same and the cross-heads carrying the cross-shafts, of

feeding means for the strands designed to en gage with the stays secured to the strands, and means connecting such feeding means to the cross-heads for imparting a forward movement to such cross-heads and consequently to the arms and means for supplying electric current to the dies as and for the purpose specified.

and arms and dies carried by the same and the cross-heads carrying the cross-shafts, of feeding means for the strands designed to en gage with the stays secured to the strands, and pitmen having an intermittent connection to the feeding means at one end and a connection to the cross-heads at the other and means for supplying electric current to the dies as and for the purpose specified.

29. In a fence-making machine, the combination with the main circuit-wires, the transformers, the dies, the connections from the transformers to the dies, the commutator supported on the frame and the connection from each transformer to each section of the commutator, of an arm pivoted on the frame and provided at the top with a brush to which one end of the main circuit-wire is connected and means for throwing such arm, so as to bring the brush successively over the sections of the commutator as and for the specified.

30. In a fence-making machine, the combination with the main circuitwires, the transformers, the dies, the connections from the transformers to the dies, the commutator supported on the frame and the connection purpose from each transformer to each section of the commutator, of an arm pivoted on the frame and provided at the top with a brush to which one end of the main circuit-Wire is connected, means for throwing such arm, so as to bring the brush successively over the sections of the commutator, and means for lifting the brush from the commutator-sections on the return movement as and for the purpose specified.

31. In a fence-making machine, the combination with the main circuit-wires, the transformers, the dies, theconnections from the transformers to the dies; the commutator supported on the frame and the connection from each transformer to each section of the commutator, of an arm pivoted on the frame and provided at the top with a brush to which one end of the main circuit-Wire is connected, means for throwing such arm, so as to bring the brush successively over the sections of the commutator, the laterally-extending li s attached to the brush and the guiding-ri s supported on each side of the commutator andabove the same as and for the purpose specified.

32. In a fence-making machine, the combination with the main circuit-wires, the transformers, the dies, the connections from the transformers to the dies, the commutator supported on the frame and the connection from each transformer to each section of the commutator, of an arm pivoted on the frame and provided at the top with a brush to which one end of the main circuit-wire is connected, the cross-head supported in suitable guideways in the frame and means for reci rocating the same, and rojections from t e'arm over one of the sha ts journaled in the crosshead as and for the purpose specified.

33. The combination with the arms and dies and cross-heads carrying the same and means for supplying electric current to the dies, and the cross-shafts and sprockets wheels and chains and hearings on the chaincarrying the feeding-spindles, of the pitmen connected to the cross-heads at one end and extending at the o posits end over the sprocket-chains and having an inward projection designed to be engaged by the bearings for the spindles as and for the purpose specified.

34. The combination with the arms and dies and cross-heads carrying the same and means for supplying electric current to the dies and the crossshafts and sprocket-wheels and chains and bearings on the chains carrying the feeding-spindles, of the pitmen connected to the cross-heads at one end and extending at the opposite end over the sprocketchains and havmg an inward projection designedto be engaged by the bearings for the spindles, and inclined raised projections attached to the frame and rollers pivoted on the pitmen designed to rise on such inclined projections as and for the ur ose specified. THOMAS I A TERSON.

Witnesses:

M. MGLAREN, A. NEwLANDs. 

